Great ideas for now and until the country is back on it's economic feet again!
As the holidays approach, the giant Asian factories are kicking into high gear to provide Americans with monstrous piles of cheaply produced goods – merchandise that’s been produced at the expense of American labor.
This year can be different. This year Americans will give the gift of genuine concern for other Americans. There is no longer an excuse that at gift giving time nothing can be found that is produced by American hands. Yes there is!
It's time for all of us to think outside the box. Who says a gift needs to fit in a shirt box wrapped in Chinese-produced wrapping paper?
Let's look at options that help to sustain our small businesses and give meaningful gifts of services or other forms of local support.
EVERYONE gets their hair cut. How about gift certificates from your local hair salon or barber?
Gym membership? It's appropriate for all ages who can benefit from some health improvement. Massage for stressed out family or friends...there are lots of wonderful local people who give super massages and would appreciate your giving a gift certificate to someone.
Remember, this is about supporting your home town American shops and workers with their financial lives on the line to keep their doors open. Local bakeries, local specialty shops, even the local coffee shops and local hardware stores. Gift certificates are always welcome and go far to help support our economy.
How many people couldn't use an oil change for their car, truck or motorcycle, done at a shop run by the American working guy? Maybe your computer could use a tune-up, and for sure there are some young people who are struggling to get their repair business up and running.
Thinking about a heartfelt gift for mom? Mom would probably LOVE the services of a local cleaning lady for a day or services of a care giver for an aging relative that is homebound, or babysitter, or pet care/house sitting.
If you are looking for something more personal, local crafts people spin their own wool and knit them into scarves. They make jewelry, and pottery and beautiful wooden boxes.
You can give a gift of local produce from a sustainable organic farmer who delivers weekly or wine/cheese certificates from a nearby winery or cheese maker.
Plan your holiday outings at local, owner-operated restaurants and leave your server a nice tip. And, how about going out to see a play or ballet at your hometown theatre.
Honestly, do we REALLY need to buy another ten thousand Chinese-made Christmas lights for the house? When we buy a five dollar string of lights, about fifty cents stays in the community. Why not leave the mailman, trash guy or babysitter a nice BIG tip instead?
Holidays are now about caring about US, encouraging American small businesses to keep plugging away to follow their dreams. And, when we care about other Americans, we care about our communities, and the benefits come back to us in ways we cannot even imagine.
This article contains just a few suggestions. Think up your own...out of the box, creative, thoughtful things that support our country and our workers, not someone else's.
Make THIS a new American Holiday tradition!
~Author Unknown